Other small states - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Other small states was 63.05 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 63.05 in 2020, while its lowest value was 27.48 in 1960.

Definition: Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. The data are collected and smoothed by United Nations Population Division.

Source: United Nations Population Division. World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.

See also:

Year Value
1960 27.48
1961 27.94
1962 28.41
1963 28.91
1964 29.45
1965 30.01
1966 30.56
1967 31.07
1968 31.59
1969 32.14
1970 32.71
1971 33.31
1972 33.88
1973 34.40
1974 35.00
1975 35.65
1976 36.31
1977 36.94
1978 37.57
1979 38.18
1980 38.80
1981 39.41
1982 40.02
1983 40.56
1984 41.13
1985 41.75
1986 42.43
1987 43.17
1988 43.94
1989 44.69
1990 45.41
1991 46.07
1992 46.47
1993 46.81
1994 47.14
1995 47.51
1996 47.93
1997 48.36
1998 48.81
1999 49.30
2000 49.82
2001 50.36
2002 50.93
2003 51.53
2004 52.19
2005 52.94
2006 53.76
2007 54.71
2008 55.69
2009 56.62
2010 57.48
2011 58.25
2012 58.91
2013 59.50
2014 60.05
2015 60.60
2016 61.12
2017 61.62
2018 62.12
2019 62.60
2020 63.05

Development Relevance: Explosive growth of cities globally signifies the demographic transition from rural to urban, and is associated with shifts from an agriculture-based economy to mass industry, technology, and service. In principle, cities offer a more favorable setting for the resolution of social and environmental problems than rural areas. Cities generate jobs and income, and deliver education, health care and other services. Cities also present opportunities for social mobilization and women's empowerment.

Limitations and Exceptions: Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverage. There is no consistent and universally accepted standard for distinguishing urban from rural areas, in part because of the wide variety of situations across countries. Most countries use an urban classification related to the size or characteristics of settlements. Some define urban areas based on the presence of certain infrastructure and services. And other countries designate urban areas based on administrative arrangements. Because of national differences in the characteristics that distinguish urban from rural areas, the distinction between urban and rural population is not amenable to a single definition that would be applicable to all countries. Estimates of the world's urban population would change significantly if China, India, and a few other populous nations were to change their definition of urban centers. Because the estimates of city and metropolitan area are based on national definitions of what constitutes a city or metropolitan area, cross-country comparisons should be made with caution.

Statistical Concept and Methodology: Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. The indicator is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Percentages urban are the numbers of persons residing in an area defined as ''urban'' per 100 total population. They are calculated by the Statistics Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Particular caution should be used in interpreting the figures for percentage urban for different countries. Countries differ in the way they classify population as "urban" or "rural." The population of a city or metropolitan area depends on the boundaries chosen.

Aggregation method: Weighted average

Periodicity: Annual

Classification

Topic: Environment Indicators

Sub-Topic: Density & urbanization